Fidel Castro’s progressive thoughts and great contributions shine forever
Over recent days, people around the world have paid their respects to Fidel Castro, the brilliant and eminent leader of the Cuban revolution as well as a close friend and comrade of the Vietnamese people.
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The great revolutionary symbol of Cuba passed away, but his noble spirit lives forever in the hearts of Vietnamese people - some of which were lucky enough to meet him.
It can be said that in modern world history, there has been rarely any special relationship such as the friendship between the Vietnamese and the Cuban Party, State and people.
Recalling the President Fidel Castro’s first visit to Quang Tri province in 1973 during the fierce resistance war against the US imperialists, Nguyen Xuan Phong, a former diplomatic official who assumed the role of a translator for the Cuban leader, shared that Fidel Castro enthusiastically supported the struggle for national liberation and reunification in Vietnam.
Visiting the fierce battlefield, Fidel Castro suggested crucial tasks for Vietnam after signing the Paris Agreement in 1973 in order to build and consolidate liberated areas as well as enlighten the people, making preparations for the final victory.
Phong said he would never forget the Cuban leader’s claim, “For Vietnam, we are willing to give even our own blood!”.
Fidel clearly saw the nature of justice of the struggle for national liberation of the Vietnamese people from foreign invaders. He repeatedly said that in the difficult years, if the US imperialists were not pinned down by the Vietnamese army, they would have likely attacked Cuba.
He affirmed that “We ourselves should give thanks to Vietnam”. Fidel regularly expressed these thoughts while talking with Cuban officials and people, which built and nurtured the profound solidarity and faithful and solid friendship between the two peoples.
His thoughts and sentiments were highlighted at his speeches referring to Vietnam in both national and international events or at his meetings with Vietnamese representatives.
Former Vietnam Ambassador to Cuba Pham Tien Tu who studied and worked for 14 years on the beautiful ‘island of independence’ was honoured to meet Fidel Castro over many years while working in the role of interpreter for leaders and embassies in high-ranking delegations of the two countries.
Tu, who is also Vice Chairman of Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association, said “Whenever meeting with comrade Fidel, I saw his strong enthusiasm. He devoted his life to the revolution”.
Remembering former Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s meeting with Fidel Castro in 2007, Tu emotionally shared that despite his old age and illness, Fidel invited the former Vietnamese Party leader to sit beside his bed to follow together the speech made by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez on television.
Also during the visit, comrade Fidel Castro emphasized that the “Vietnam – Cuba relationship was a symbol of the times”.
The death of the Cuban prominent and friendly leader is a great loss for the Cuban Communist Party and people as well as for the proletarian revolutionary movement and peace-loving people throughout the world.
However, his progressive thoughts and great contributions to the Cuban revolution in particularly and progressive people in Latin America and the world in general will be an invaluable asset urging Cuban people to move forward along with national liberation movements in the world.
